In a message dated 98-07-14 16:02:12 EDT, brian_smithson@vds.com writes:
<< It appears from the pictures I've seen that a big hole is dug, a form is
built and suspended in the hole. The concrete is poured and the form
is left in the hole and it is backfilled around the form. I've always heard
that undesturbed earth is the best thing to support something like this,
not backfilled.
Yes, undisturbed earth is the preferred situation. The only reason why
you would need forms in the hole that I'm aware of would be if the walls were
sloughing into the hole. For sandy or unconsolidated soil, this would be a
problem but usually isn't for 'normal' soil.
>>What if the form were 'short' - just a couple of feet to square off the top
(visible) part and the rest of the concrete was poured against the bare
undesturbed earth below? Then I'd only be backfilling the top couple of
feet to neaten it up. Is the chunk so big that it doesn't really
matter? Seems like a way to make the form smaller and easier to
handle. >>
Sure, but I would just have 2x4's or similar right at the grade level.
Then there's no need to backfill the hole at all.
Soil engineers? Geotechnical folks?
Cheers, Steve K7LXC
http://www.championradio.com
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